Fashion and film have always been bedfellows, and the glitzy Cannes Film Festival, which wrapped last week, is a perfect platform for the two worlds to unite. This year, numerous big anniversaries — including the festival’s 70th and L’Oréal Paris’s 20th year as its official beauty partner — set the stage for even more fashion- and beauty-world hubbub.
L’Oréal kicked off its celebrations with the launch of a limited-edition Colour Riche lipstick, honoring its two decades as a Cannes partner — it went on sale everywhere in May and was highlighted onsite at the brand’s Cinema Club, an event and rest space that served as a second home for the week to fashion’s elite.
L’Oréal’s Cinema Club event space at Cannes
Among them was Balmain designer Olivier Rousteing, who threw a party at the club to fete the launch of his new lipstick capsule collection with the company. “[Cannes] is a French institution,” he told WWD. “It’s pretty overwhelming with… all the different universes coming together, with this mix of fashion and film, intellectual and popular culture. It’s incredible.” Luckily, he had the familiar faces of his “it” girl crew — Kendall Jenner, Joan Smalls and Bella Hadid — by his side.
Chopard also used the event to unveil its latest collaboration, with one of the industry’s most lucrative partners, Rihanna. Time will tell if the “Rihanna Loves Chopard” collection will pull Puma-level weight for the fine jeweler, which has been a longtime Cannes partner since redesigning its prestigious Palme d’Or award 20 years ago.
The Italian eyewear brand Persol had an anniversary of it’s own to celebrate: 100 years in business. As such, it teamed up with longtime Cannes partner amFAR on a celebratory yacht party boasting guests like Donatella Versace and Jean Paul Gaultier.
Rihanna fetes her collaboration with Chopard at Cannes
Not all brands, however, were a given on the scene.
Emilio Pucci, which doesn’t have a direct tie to Cannes, took advantage of the luxury consumers on hand by debuting its new Bikini Bar initiative at the festival. The traveling retail concept (which will also hit the likes of Mykonos and Capri) showcases Pucci’s new limited-edition bikini capsule collection, which retails for upward of $395.
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And pseudo-bad boy Philipp Plein seemed to make the the biggest fashion splash, throwing his first ever resort show at his Cannes mansion, which saw everyone from Paris Hilton to the “hot felon,” Jeremy Meeks, walking the runway. Plein also used the festival to unveil a capsule collection with graffiti artist Alec Monopoly.
“Cannes is a good mix of culture and a high-fashion setting, and because of that, it has a nice halo effect for the brands involved,” said Charlie Cole, vice president of Tumi. “And, I mean, South of France? Mid-May?”
The environment is particularly well-suited to luxury brands, as they can count on hordes of top-tier customers coming into contact with their pricier products. But the influencer marketing potential of the event (see: celebrities and others sharing their escapades on social media) could make it worthwhile for other brands, too. The Emily Ratajkowskis of the world cavorting at branded events, often while wearing branded products, serves as a natural endorsement.
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Some of Cannes’ storied industry-merging events also returned, and a few garnered more fashion buzz than normal.
amFAR’s annual Cinema Against Aids Gala, of which both Carine Roitfeld and Kenneth Cole are chairs, reconvened at the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc and was lavish as ever. Roitfeld has helped organize the fashion show component for the past few years. This time around, she scored looks from the likes of Chanel and Gucci, all of which were auctioned for a collective $20 million.
Sofia Richie walks in Phillip Plein’s resort 2018 show in Cannes
Naomi Campbell’s Fashion for Relief event, in its 12th year, was particularly impressive — with a catwalk featuring everyone from the retired Kate Moss to Heidi Klum, and an audience of fashion heavyweights, including Dean and Dan Caten and Peter Dundas. More donated designer goods were available on auction, and all proceeds (exact numbers have not been revealed) went to Save the Children.
Luxury conglomerate Kering also hit the scene again to host the third edition of its Women in Motion awards, which showcases the contribution of women to the film industry. It brought Madame Figaro into the fold this time for an additional, celebratory-studded lunch.
Finally, Chanel and Vanity Fair France threw their annual dinner at Chez Toutou. This year, it boasted hosts Jonathan Newhouse and Karl Lagerfeld, the latter of which said it marked his first visit to the festival — a fashionable endorsement if ever there was one.
